Song of Solomon 8:4

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem Rather, as in R.V., I adjure you … nor awaken love, until it please. This verse is a repetition of Song of Solomon 2:7 and Song of Solomon 3:5 with the difference that, instead of im = that … not, we have here mah = why. The A.V. translates this mahas -not." Cp. Job 31:1, where an interrogative mahis translated οὐ by the LXX and nonby the Vulg. But in form our clause is interrogative, -Why would ye stir up or awake love until it should please?" i.e. you see it was quite unnecessary to try to rouse love before its time. Your experience must teach you how vain it has been to attempt to arouse it prematurely, and how certain it would be to awake at the proper time.